DRAUPADI XXII

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXII

Draupadi looked amazed

so much splendour, such a rich display

what imagination has conceived this dome!

The entire palace, the streets, rows of houses

all these were covered by a lamplit dome

gems glowed to brighten the smiles

of artisans busy in making Kampilya

an elysium of seven  layered beauty.

The foyer was a rectangle of orbit order

golden thrones were lined up in rows for guests,

all royal, heroic and bold to win the garland.

Draupadi's garland, with triumphant smirk.

Draupadi's heart sank to imagine the scene.

Will the archer win her heart or just

stringed flowers from my hands?

 

Father called - See my darling daughter

how my kingdom smiles with swelling joy

to send my most accomplished child

to  a hero's palace which shall be graced

by my heart jewel's first ringing steps.

Father, you have lavished so much on this -

What did you say? Spent so much!

Why not - I am Drupad, and my daughter

will marry the Sandipani test cracker

your husband and my son-in-law

would be the greatest in Aryabarta

and I shall have my revenge!

Is it only for revenge Father

Do you not wish your daughter

to live in peace, love and glory?

Drupad held Draupadi close to his heart

in emotion choked voice he said:

My sweet child, do you think I'll

give you away to some mendicant,

be assured my love you'll have

the best Prince of this great country.

Time Flies

 

f

My dreams never relate to future

events of fear, defeat, dejection

take shape diabolically self negating

to make me cry at odd hours of night.

 

My childhood run recedes

my present worries tease me

my youth stands aslant 

blocking my dreams

which still  burn on pyres

of overwilled passion

now in sacrificial flame.

 

My waking reveries are a timepass

my dawn passes, noon too vanishes

the past pushes me through the routine

to get dream time where my past

is the actor director in a strange role.

Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI - XXI

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXI

Alpana entered, a big smile

brightening her face, her beaming voice

almost crooned, now our Princess

will be her winner hero's queen!

But in some other kingdom, who knows

near or far, on the banks of a river

or in some lion infested jungle?

 

You silly woman, don't you have work,

Draupadi frowned in mock anger,

what work Princess, is there anything

more important, more glamorous and pleasant

than your marriage for me or anyone else

come and see Kampilya is decorated

a bride, a paragon of grace and majesty

to be ravished by a hero's exploits

see the arches of welcome, the domes

of pride and glory, obelisks of royalty

piercing the star studded canopy of the sky,

pillars of filigree fine delight the eyes

Pitchers of gold and ivory sit on them

like decorated breasts of aerial sylphs.

 

Stop I say, I know Father has poured

all gems of the palace  emptying the treasure

to show off, to showcase his splendour

but none thinks of me, poor me must

wait and see and obey  in deep silence

some unknown King or Prince, the lucky

winner of the wager, will be  a hero

and I have to garland him to become

just another prize for his Harem -

No Princess, why do you speak like this

you deserve  Indra from heaven

and we are confident  you will get the

young handsome, heroic, brave and rich

our Draupadi will hold the reins

the entire Aryabarta will obey

what our Princess commands in whispers.

 

Short Is Long Enough

If I were immortal

no hunger, no work.

no searching for things

but if life of Tithonous

is the fate of immortality

I would have none of it.

 

Life is short

and shorter is youth

but how to make the limited span

long enough for mortality?

Oh, I have found the key

to open my moments as the sky

opens to hold all luminosities.

 

Short is longer when the kissing

moments transcend all missing realities

love stamps its authority on each

passing moment making them

dynamic and endless.

My key will turn all locked up

feelings to raise hymns to heaven.

Sabita Sahu

 

 

 

Are You In your Sense, God!

 

When I bow down you don't see

when I shout the mantras you go deaf

I don't know your cell number

It must be zero but I have never tried.

 

How can I tell my woes

my body aches, my son's insolence

my husband's night shocks and my

neighbour's dog waking me all night?

 

All your temples are shut

the masked priests don't chant

the real mantras, they mutter and turn

in fear of everything you have released

on man and his small world.

 

If you are not deaf and blind

see me, listen to me and come down

my world is off the track, my mind

moves like your chakra bleeding

my innards and never stops.

Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI - XX

 

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XX

The buzz around was riotous

everyone was on his toes, running

laughing, and joking in free elation,

King Drupad was issuing orders

tents were  being raised in the city

domes, cones, big, bigger, larger

gold, purple, scarlet shades arose

rainbows  descended with spectral magic.

Brother was instructing artisans

shelters, stables, sheds for horses and soldiers

must be completed within seven days,

Thousands worked day and night

thousands carried store provisions,

the sight filled the eyes and ears

the guests would arrive, Princes,

Kings, Courtiers, soldiers, guards

chariots innumerable will raise dust

in the streets of Kampilya: the Palace

with a fresh paint and fortifications

must look like heaven's joy

spread over Drupad's mighty kingdom.

 

Draupadi saw and heard,

anticipation in the air is now

a happening reality in the making,

while returning from the library

after reading on archery and strategy

she accosted her brother Dhristadyumna

who taunted her: See sister

for your grand send off how I sweat

Draupadi smiled:  Good for your fat

you will look streamlined and

Princesses will fawn on you:

Am I not handsome and fit?

O' You are, you will be a killer.

A roll of laughter arose

in the ladies camp, she couldn't

guess what it was, she paused

and stepped up towards it.

 

DRAUPADI - XIX

 

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XIX

I am watched in sleep

guards follow me to the garden

I can't speak my mind, I am a doll

an exhibit on the royal shelf :

 See Draupadi! Our gift of fire

she came a full formed beautiful

package of divine elegance,

a Princess to brighten our Kingdom's future.

 

My brother too is fire born yet

none speaks of him as some exotic

A spirit in human form or gift of fire.

The brother too exercises his authority

for he is male, he is the Future.

Drupad's memory perpetuator

Inheritor of the King's name and Pride

Draupadi felt dizzy and sank into a chair.

 

A woman I am hence no freedom

A woman I am hence mindless

A woman I am to follow commands

why don't they acknowledge my being?

My separateness, my free spirit?

I have my own mind and I think but fail,

how can I chose my life mate

from among the Princes or the Prince

who pierces the eye of the fish

tied to a moving wheel

in Sandipani's Radhachakra?

When my choice does not matter

my misgivings should be lost in my smile

  I must garland him who wins the test

even if he is cruel, ugly and vain

a man of many women and lustful!

Is marriage a joke for Father

he mirthfully sets the trap to catch

his avenger with me as the bait?

Draupadi stood up in helpless rage

I have no voice, no freedom, no legs,

I have to scale my Reason and blink

at all the glitter of make belief!

 

Dream Open Eyed

 

Dreams are horrible

they disturb your sleep,

lift you to layers of unreality

enchanting till the eyes open

to the new sun for a new

lotus to a fresh bloom.

 

Is this what we call dream

to be in a dream heaven

drinking the elixir of immortality?

But when the eyes open to your

naked palace your children start

nagging -No - MoM not this

No Maggie -today,

you laugh at your cracked dreams.

 

Dreams are imagination electrified

by your ambition and trust

in your abilities, talents

in your creativity and the desire

to leave something

for posterity to dream on.

 

A Dreamer is one

whose eyes are always open

he dreams big with open eyes

form and substance

beauty and essence

and all with a tinge of reality.

 

O dreamers don't idle away

in fancy what your

imagination gives you as vision:

build your dreams into

fancies of life.

Sabita Sahu

 

DRAUPADI -XVIII

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XVIII

Father! don't be impatient

listen to me, I beseech you,

why do you want to throw me out,

Yes, throw me out of your heart,

Am I such a burden, such a load

unbearable, cumbersome and vile?

 

No my child, never speak that language

you are the fire of my old bones,

I want your bright future, wish

a dream life, for you and yours,

I want the best hero, the best archer

who can protect you and also my pride -

 

What pride Father? You have - only

one resolve, one- ambition, one mission

to see Drona at your feet, living or dead,

Am I your bait for your Revenge

to catch the greatest archer of Aryabarta,

a normal father wouldn't like to part

with his daughter- no daughter am I

a gift of the -gods from the cauldron:

 

O' stop my child don't stab me like this,

Yes I want my vengeance, Drona

has bled my feelings, my Royal pride,

I must avenge and what's wrong

If I want the best in this Swayambara

to win my daughter and my heart?

 

Father, I respect your feelings but

how long have I come to this world

I never ran in this palace falling

and rising, never sat in your lap

never knew who was what, even now 

I haven't breathed the air of love

of you or mother's, I haven't seen

the extent of your kingdom, haven't met -

 

My Draupadi, dear Draupadi go around

my kingdom, move without fear, enjoy

my name and plenitude - but you know

You are a Princess, Drupad's daughter

Royalty often is its own enemy

move with care -  I'll give you my guards.

 

I'll do that  Father but on one condition:

Postpone my marriage, let me grow in

worldly  ways - No now it's too late.

Invitations have been sent, messengers

are in every kingdom, now - no my child:

Drupad walked away in a huff.

 

Stop This Deluge

The bell has stopped ringing

the cash register has stopped tinkling

the smell of cooking has stopped tingling

but the bell continues tolling

for the corona escapees in mourning

 

I cannot raise my hands in despair

for the lined up beds in corridors

in million hospitals everywhere

I can close my eyes in prayer.

 

Who has sent this hydra headed monster

God or the Devil to wipe off life here

these unseen vipers change shape

to enter all shapely bodies in vile

vengefulness for what I do not know.

 

But let me stand opening all pores

to invite all viruses to enter me

and save mankind this deluge

to rise again in divine form

 

If my prayer is ugly is ultra vires

show your contempt god to hack

my body into trillion pieces but

save  the best of your creation

to keep the flames of life aloft

to light up Love and Virtue.

Sabita Sahu